Les Miserables
by Victor Hugo Characters: Jean Valjean: A convict who turns his life around. He is an honest, kind man who wants to live in peace and have a new chance at life.
Javert: The chief of police, he is cold man determined to bring justice to all who disobey the law. He hunts Valjean for most of his life. His goal in life is to catch Valjean and bring him to justice.
Fantine: A beautiful young woman who has made some mistakes in her past, and she to is searching for a new beginning. The love she has for her daughter is so great, that it forces her into prostitution to make ends meet.
Cosette: Fantine's daughter, she is also very beautiful and naive. She is raised by Valjean, and always questions him about his dark past. She fall in love with Marius and they are determined to be together.
Marius: He grew up in a decent family, but because of a dispute with his grandfather he leaves and becomes a poor law student. He becomes involved with other radical students and they form a group, the Friends of the ABC, who is rebelling against the government.
Summary: Jean Valjean is a convict, just out of prison after nineteen years. He arrives in a town and no one wants to give him shelter because he is a convict. He knocks on the door of a bishop, who treats Valjean with kindness. Valjean repays him by stealing silverwear from him and running away. He is later caught by the police who bring him back to the bishop's doorstep. The bishop covers for Valjean by saying the silverwear was a gift. He then tells Valjean that with the silverwear, he has bought Valjean from sin and, therefore given him back to God. The kind bishop makes Valjean promise him to be an honest man. Valjean takes on the name of Madeliene, and enters a city called Montreuil-sur-mer. He becomes mayor of the city, and thus begins Valjean's new beginning.
Fantine is a beautiful young woman-in-love, living in Paris. When her lover leaves her after getting her pregnant, she is forced to leave her daughter with another family (no one would hire her if they knew she had an illegitimate child). Fantine finds a job working in a factory owned by Madeliene (Valjean). It is discovered that she has a daughter, and she is immediatly fired. She is forced to become a prostitute to pay for Cosette.
One night, Fantine is discovered and arrested by the cheif of police, Javert. Madeliene intervines and keeps her from going to prison. Fantine becomes deathly ill and Madeliene visits her on a regular basis. Fantine tells him to bring Cosette back to her. Meanwhile, a man claiming to be Valjean is put on trial. Madeliene goes to the trial and confesses that he is Valjean, because he cannot allow another man to suffer for what he has done. Javert, who has suspected Valjean from the day they met, shows up at Fantine's house to arrest Valjean while he is talking to her. Fantine, who has been ill for some time, dies from shock.
After a few years Valjean escapes from prison and goes to fetch Cosette. Javert is still after Valjean, so he and Cosette flee to a convent and stay there for many years. She attends school there and he works as a gardener. The year before Cosette becomes a nun, she tells Valjean that she does not wish and they move to another part of Paris.
One day, while walking in a park, Cosette meets Marius, a young radical, and it is love at first site. This proves to be difficult, however, because Valjean is over protective of Cosette, and he makes sure they never meet again. Valjean makes a visit to a poor family, who turns out to be the same family that took care of Cosette (they had abused her). They plan to rob Valjean, but Marius hears of it and tells the police. The police arrive, with Javert leading them, and stop the ambush. Valjean narrowly escapes without being noticed.
Marius discovers where Cosette is living and they reunite. Valjean discovers this, and announces that he and Cosette are moving to England. Marius goes to ask his grandfather if he can marry Cosette, but when he returns she is gone along with Valjean. Marius's friends start a political uprising and he goes to join them. There is no way they will win against the government, however they stay and fight. Marius finds Cosette's whereabouts and sends a letter to her. Valjean intercepts the note and sets out to save Marius.
Valjean meets Javert again, alone, and he has the upper hand. However, he decides to let Javert go. Javert escapes, but finds Valjean later along with Marius who is wounded. It is agreed that Marius will be sent away for help, but Javert will kill Valjean. As the two of them walk to Valjean's death, Javert has a change of heart. He finally realizes that Valjean is a changed, honest man, and he has been tormenting him for his entire life. Javert throws himself into the river, ultimatly setting Valjean free.
Cosette and Marius are married. Valjean tells Marius of his past, and Marius deceides to keep himself and Cosette away from Valjean.
Years later he discovers that it was Valjean that saved his life. Marius and Cosette reconcile with him, and Valjean dies peacefully.
Why is this an outstanding book?
The book Les Miserables is about a group of people who want to forget their dark pasts and have a new beginning. However, they cannot seem to escape the desicions they previously made. Despite the obstacles that are thrown in their paths they overcome.
This is an outstanding book because it shows that anyone can turn their life around start a new beginning. It's a story of hope and triumph, and it's inspiring to anyone who reads it.
by Victor Hugo
Javert: The chief of police, he is cold man determined to bring justice to all who disobey the law. He hunts Valjean for most of his life. His goal in life is to catch Valjean and bring him to justice.
Fantine: A beautiful young woman who has made some mistakes in her past, and she to is searching for a new beginning. The love she has for her daughter is so great, that it forces her into prostitution to make ends meet.
Cosette: Fantine's daughter, she is also very beautiful and naive. She is raised by Valjean, and always questions him about his dark past. She fall in love with Marius and they are determined to be together.
Marius: He grew up in a decent family, but because of a dispute with his grandfather he leaves and becomes a poor law student. He becomes involved with other radical students and they form a group, the Friends of the ABC, who is rebelling against the government.
Summary: Jean Valjean is a convict, just out of prison after nineteen years. He arrives in a town and no one wants to give him shelter because he is a convict. He knocks on the door of a bishop, who treats Valjean with kindness. Valjean repays him by stealing silverwear from him and running away. He is later caught by the police who bring him back to the bishop's doorstep. The bishop covers for Valjean by saying the silverwear was a gift. He then tells Valjean that with the silverwear, he has bought Valjean from sin and, therefore given him back to God. The kind bishop makes Valjean promise him to be an honest man. Valjean takes on the name of Madeliene, and enters a city called Montreuil-sur-mer. He becomes mayor of the city, and thus begins Valjean's new beginning.
Fantine is a beautiful young woman-in-love, living in Paris. When her lover leaves her after getting her pregnant, she is forced to leave her daughter with another family (no one would hire her if they knew she had an illegitimate child). Fantine finds a job working in a factory owned by Madeliene (Valjean). It is discovered that she has a daughter, and she is immediatly fired. She is forced to become a prostitute to pay for Cosette.
One night, Fantine is discovered and arrested by the cheif of police, Javert. Madeliene intervines and keeps her from going to prison. Fantine becomes deathly ill and Madeliene visits her on a regular basis. Fantine tells him to bring Cosette back to her. Meanwhile, a man claiming to be Valjean is put on trial. Madeliene goes to the trial and confesses that he is Valjean, because he cannot allow another man to suffer for what he has done. Javert, who has suspected Valjean from the day they met, shows up at Fantine's house to arrest Valjean while he is talking to her. Fantine, who has been ill for some time, dies from shock.
After a few years Valjean escapes from prison and goes to fetch Cosette. Javert is still after Valjean, so he and Cosette flee to a convent and stay there for many years. She attends school there and he works as a gardener. The year before Cosette becomes a nun, she tells Valjean that she does not wish and they move to another part of Paris.
One day, while walking in a park, Cosette meets Marius, a young radical, and it is love at first site. This proves to be difficult, however, because Valjean is over protective of Cosette, and he makes sure they never meet again. Valjean makes a visit to a poor family, who turns out to be the same family that took care of Cosette (they had abused her). They plan to rob Valjean, but Marius hears of it and tells the police. The police arrive, with Javert leading them, and stop the ambush. Valjean narrowly escapes without being noticed.
Marius discovers where Cosette is living and they reunite. Valjean discovers this, and announces that he and Cosette are moving to England. Marius goes to ask his grandfather if he can marry Cosette, but when he returns she is gone along with Valjean. Marius's friends start a political uprising and he goes to join them. There is no way they will win against the government, however they stay and fight. Marius finds Cosette's whereabouts and sends a letter to her. Valjean intercepts the note and sets out to save Marius.
Valjean meets Javert again, alone, and he has the upper hand. However, he decides to let Javert go. Javert escapes, but finds Valjean later along with Marius who is wounded. It is agreed that Marius will be sent away for help, but Javert will kill Valjean. As the two of them walk to Valjean's death, Javert has a change of heart. He finally realizes that Valjean is a changed, honest man, and he has been tormenting him for his entire life. Javert throws himself into the river, ultimatly setting Valjean free.
Cosette and Marius are married. Valjean tells Marius of his past, and Marius deceides to keep himself and Cosette away from Valjean.
Years later he discovers that it was Valjean that saved his life. Marius and Cosette reconcile with him, and Valjean dies peacefully.
Why is this an outstanding book?
The book Les Miserables is about a group of people who want to forget their dark pasts and have a new beginning. However, they cannot seem to escape the desicions they previously made. Despite the obstacles that are thrown in their paths they overcome.
This is an outstanding book because it shows that anyone can turn their life around start a new beginning. It's a story of hope and triumph, and it's inspiring to anyone who reads it.